Ahead of the Curve: GRID-Arendal Annual Report 2016

UNEP, 2015, Blue Economy: Sharing Success Stories to Inspire Change. United Nations Environment Programme. Nairobi.. www.grida.no/publications/default/6720

Baker, E.K., Puglise, K.A. and Harris, P.T. (Eds.). (2016). Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems –A lifeboat for coral reefs? The United Nations Environment Programme and GRID-Arendal, Nairobi and Arendal. www.grida.no/publications/mesophotic-coral-ecosystems

Depth in metres The mesophotic coral ecosystem

Shallow surface reefs

Approx. limit of most recreational scuba diving Shallow reefs dominated by scleractinian corals

30 m

“Upper”mesophotic coral ecosystems

60 m

90 m

Decrease in light intensity

120 m

“Lower”mesophotic coral ecosystems

Lower range for most research diving with mixed-gas equipment Upper range for most research using deep-diving vehicles

150 m

180 m

Source: Richard Pyle, unpublished data.

Graphic from Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

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